Hornets Win 4 Straight Behind LaMelo's 35 — First Playoff Appearance in a Decade Is Within Reach

The Charlotte Hornets haven't made the playoffs since 2016. Ten years. An entire decade of lottery picks, front office changes, and "next year" promises.

That might be over. LaMelo Ball dropped 35 points on the Timberwolves Sunday night — 7-of-14 from deep, his eighth game this season with seven or more threes. The Hornets won 122-108, their fourth straight, and they're now 43-36.

Charlotte is half a game out of the 6 seed in the East. They're 9-2 since mid-March and 39-22 since Thanksgiving. This isn't a hot streak. This is a transformation.

The analytics back it up too. Ball's combination of shot creation, three-point volume, and playmaking has turned the Hornets into one of the most dangerous offenses in the league over the past two months. Tonight they visit the Celtics in Boston — a win there would be a serious statement that this team belongs in the playoffs, not the play-in.